Chair

ABSTRACT

A chair characterized by a frame structure formed by a single frame member having a continuously curved shape. The frame member includes an arcuate planar floor engaging portion, an arcuate inclined riser portion, and an inclined arcuate seat support portion. A seat is suspended from the frame seat support portion and may be fabricated of flexible material such as fabric, or may be of a rigid material such as molded plastic.

United States Patent Chang 1 Apr. 18, 1972 54] CHAIR 0144,719 5/1946King et a1 ..297/295 [72] Inventor: Ching Yu Chang, Mama Park Apm2,509,451 5/1950 Remholz ..297/287 E1 15, Glendale Road, Havertown, Pa.19083 Filed: June 1970 387,884 2/1933 Great Bntam ..297/294 [21] Appl.No.: 44,699 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Garry Moore52 U.S. c1 ..297/44s, 297/285 Mama-HM and [51] Int. Cl ..A47c 1/12 58Field of Search ..297/445, 294, 295, 307, 285, v [57] ABSTRACT 297/457;015/ A chair characterized by a frame structure formed by a single framemember having a continuously curved shape. The frame [56] Referencescued member includes an arcuate planar floor engaging portion, an UNITEDSTATES PATENTS arcuate inclined riser portion, and an inclined arcuateseat support portion. A seat is suspended from the frame seat sup- 1,79l 1 MleS port portion and may be fabricated of flexible material such a2,975,327 1961 er 97/445 fabric, or may be of a rigid material such asmolded plastic. 3,069,204 12/1962 Ursterholt et al..... ..297/4452,325,270 7/1943 Oermann ..297/287 11 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresPATENTEDAPR 18 I972 CHING-YU CHANG CHAIR The present invention relatesgenerally to chairs and more particularly to a novel chair structurecomprising a frame formed by a single rod-like frame member.

Chairs have in the past been constructed of rods or tubes which are bentand joined in various configurations to provide leg, seat and backelements. Such arrangements have, however, for the most part beenrelatively complex structures which are difficult and expensive tofabricate and which require the welding or other connection of jointsduring assembly. In addition, many designs of this type are strictlyutilitarian in concept and lack aesthetic appeal.

In the present invention, the chair structure is characterized by aframe which is formed of a single rod-like element having a continuouslycurved configuration. The chair frame has no joints and thus requires noassembly steps. The frame can be made without the usual large investmentin jigs, dies and related rools. While functional in concept, the chairframe nevertheless produces an attractive, graceful, free-flowingappearance in view of its continuously curved single frame member.

In brief, the present chair includes a frame comprising a singlecontinuously curved rod-like frame member which is formed to provide anarcuate planar floor engaging portion, an arcuate ascending riserportion, and an inclined arcuate seat support portion. A chair seat issuspended from the seat support portion. The several frame portions havesubstantially similar radii and are joined in smoothly curvedtransitions.

It is accordingly a first object of the present invention to provide achair structure having a chair frame formed of a single continuouslycurved rod-like frame member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair structure asdescribed wherein the frame thereof is free of joints or connectors andmay be readily and inexpensively fabricated.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a chair structurehaving a novel chair frame which provides a resilient support of thechair seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair structure asdescribed which has an attractive modern appearance and which can bedecoratively and comfortably employed for interior or exterior seatingpurposes.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more readilyapparent from the following detailed description of an embodimentthereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a chair embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the chair of FIG. 1 with the seat thereofpartly broken away to show details of the frame member;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chair of FIG. I with the seatpartly broken away;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the chair of FIGS. 1-5.

Referring to the drawings, the chair generally designated 10 embodyingthe present invention includes a frame 11 comprising a singlecontinuously curving generally helical frame member 12, and a seat 14carried thereby. The frame member 12, which may be formed from a metalrod as illustrated or any other suitable rod-like element, includes anarcuate planar floor engaging portion 16, an arcuate riser portion 18ascending therefrom, and an arcuate seat support portion 20. The threearcuate frame portions have a similar radius, and each curves smoothlyinto the adjacent portion.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the frame portionsare each less than 360' in angular extent. The floor engaging portion 16as seen in FIG. 5 extends from the lower frame member end 22 to thetransition 24 with the riser portion 18 through approximately 215. Thetransition 24 is preferably at the rear center of the frame as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, which places the end 22 off to one side of the seat. Thefloor engaging portion should extend beneath the front edge of the seatsupport portion to provide the necessary chair stability.

The riser portion extends from the transition 24 to a transition 26 withthe seat support portion through approximately The seat support portion20 fomrs nearly a complete circle, having an angular extent ofapproximately 325 between the transition 26 and the upper frame end 28.The suggested angular extent of the various frame portions describe apreferred embodiment of the invention and it should be understood thatthese angles may be varied within the scope of the invention.

Although the riser portion 18 in the illustrated embodiment is shown asa planar arcuate portion of the frame, the riser portion mayalternatively be of a helical shape. The angle 01 shown in FIG. 1between the riser portion and the floor engaging portion is preferablyless than 45 and as illustrated is 23 although this angle can be varieddepending on the height of the seat desired. Similarly, the angle Bwhich the seat supporting portion 20 makes with the horizontal ispreferably less than 45 and in the preferred form of the invention is30. The angle B is preferably greater than the angle a.

The seat 14 in the illustrated embodiment is formed of a molded plasticand includes a generally oval shaped relatively flat bottom portion 30and a smoothly curved back portion 32 extending upwardly and outwardlytherefrom. A U-shaped peripheral flange 34 defines the outer edge of theseat and is formed to fit over the seat supporting portion 20 of theframe 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the frame transition 26 and theupper end 28 of the frame are concealed beneath the seat flange.

The seat 14 could alternately be made of a fabric and could be attachedto the seat support portion of the frame either by sewing, lacing,hooks, zipper or any other suitable means of attachment. The shape ofthe seat and the means of attachment of the seat to the frame can thusbe varied as desired.

In the illustrated embodiment, the arcuate chair frame curves upwardlyfrom the floor in a counterclockwise direction. The frame may obviouslybe reversed in direction and curve upwardly clockwise with equallyeffective results. In such a case, the riser portion and the end 22 willbe on the right hand side of the chair, keeping the transition 24 at therear center of the chair.

The radius of the arcuate frame portions may differ somewhat as isillustrated in the present embodiment wherein the radius of the riserportion 18 is slightly larger than that of the floor engaging portion 16in order to support the front edge of the seat over the front of thefloor engaging portion. It may, for example, be desireable to make theradius of the chair support portion smaller than that of the floorengaging portion, although in the illustrated embodiment these portionshave the same radius.

Because of the configuration of the frame member, the

chair will have a certain resilient character, the amount of spring ofthe frame depending on the size and characteristics of the material fromwhich the frame is fabricated. Although a metal rod is illustrated inthe drawings, a steel pipe, for example 1 inch OD with a wall thicknessof one-sixteenth inch to one-eighth inch, would alternately be asuitable material for the frame member and can be easily formed to thenecessary shape without elaborate equipment. Conventional bending toolsand techniques may be employed to form the frame in a single stepoperation. A radius of approximately 18 inches for the arcuate frameportions and a seat height of 15-18 inches are preferred dimensions butmay of course be varied as desired.

The term rod-like as used in describing the frame member is consideredto include either solid or hollow elongated structural elements whichmay have any desired cross sectional configuration. While a metal rod ortube would be the most obvious choice considering strength and cost,other materials could also be used such as plastics.

The absence of any joints or connectors in the chair frame greatlysimplifies the expense and time required to manufacture the frame. Thepresent construction further assures a practically unlimited life of thechair frame since accidental breakage, loosening of joints, or weakeningof the frame is virtually impossible.

Manifestly, changes in details of construction can be effected by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope ofthe invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A chair frame, comprising a generally helical single continuouslycurved rod-like member having a planar lowermost arcuate portion havinga uniform radius of curvature adapted to rest upon a floor to supportsaid member, and having an uppennost planar arcuate seat support portionhaving a unifonn radius of curvature inclined to the plane of saidlowennost arcuate portion.

2. A chair comprising a frame, and a seat, said frame comprising asingle continuously curved rod-like frame member, said frame memberincluding a horizontal arcuate planar floor engaging portion having auniform radius of curvature, a planar arcuate riser portion having auniform radius of curvature extending from one end of said floorengaging portion, the plane of said riser portion being inclined at anacute angle to that of said floor engaging portion, and a planar arcuateseat support portion having a uniform radius of curvature extending fromthe upper end of said riser portion, the plane of said seat supportportion being inclined at an acute angle with respect to that of saidfloor engaging portion, the transitions between said adjoining frameportions comprising smoothly curved continuations of the arcs of saidrespective portions, said seat being peripherally supported by saidarcuate seat support portion.

3. A chair frame comprising a single continuously curved rod-like framemember, said frame member including a horizontal arcuate planar floorengaging portion having a uniform radius of curvature, a planar arcuateriser portion having a uniform radius of curvature extending from oneend of said floor engaging portion, the plane of said riser portionbeing inclined at an acute angle to that of said floor engaging portion,and a planar arcuate seat support portion having a uniform radius ofcurvature extending from the upper end of said riser portion, the planeof said seat support portion being inclined at an acute angle to that ofsaid floor engaging portion, the transitions between said adjoiningframe portions comprising smoothly curved continuations of the arcs ofsaid respective portions.

4. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transition betweensaid riser portion and said seat support portion is centered at thefront of the chair.

5. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the planes of each ofsaid planar floor engaging, riser and seat support portions areperpendicular to a reference plane passing vertically through the chairframe along the front-to-rear axis thereof.

6. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the radii of the arcuateframe portions are substantially equal.

7. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein said frame member isformed of a single metal rod.

8. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein said frame member isformed of a metal tube.

9. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the arcuate extent ofsaid floor engaging portion comprises approximately 215, the arcuateextent of said riser portion comprises approximately 180, and thearcuate extent of said seat supporting portion comprises approximately325.

10. A chair frame as claimed in claim 6, the transition between saidfloor engaging portion and said riser portion being centered at the rearof the chair.

1]. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein said floor engagingportion extends beneath the front edge of said seat support portion.

1. A chair frame, comprising a generally helical single continuouslycurved rod-like member having a planar lowermost arcuate portion havinga uniform radius of curvature adapted to rest upon a floor to supportsaid member, and having an uppermost planar arcuate seat support portionhaving a uniform radius of curvature inclined to the plane of saidlowermost arcuate portion.
 2. A chair comprising a frame, and a seat,said frame comprising a single continuously curved rod-like framemember, said frame member including a horizontal arcuate planar floorengaging portion having a uniform radius of curvature, a planar arcuateriser portion having a uniform radius of curvature extending from oneend of said floor engaging portion, the plane of said riser portionbeing inclined at an acute angle to that of said floor engaging portion,and a planar arcuate seat support portion having a uniform radius ofcurvature extending from the upper end of said riser portion, the planeof said seat support portion being inclined at an acute angle withrespect to that of said floor engaging portion, the transitions betweensaid adjoining frame portions comprising smoothly curved continuationsof the arcs of said respective portions, said seat being peripherallysupported by said arcuate seat support portion.
 3. A chair framecomprising a single continuously curved rod-like frame member, saidframe member including a horizontal arcuate planar floor engagingportion having a uniform radius of curvature, a planar arcuate riserportion having a uniform radius of curvature extending from one end ofsaid floor engaging portion, the plane of said riser portion beinginclined at an acute angle to that of said floor engaging portion, and aplanar arcuate seat support portion having a uniform radius of curvatureextending from the upper end of said riser portion, the plane of saidseat support portion being inclined at an acute angle to that of saidfloor engaging portion, the transitions between said adjoining frameportions comprising smoothly curved continuations of the arcs of saidrespective portions.
 4. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein thetransition between sAid riser portion and said seat support portion iscentered at the front of the chair.
 5. A chair frame as claimed in claim3 wherein the planes of each of said planar floor engaging, riser andseat support portions are perpendicular to a reference plane passingvertically through the chair frame along the front-to-rear axis thereof.6. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the radii of the arcuateframe portions are substantially equal.
 7. A chair frame as claimed inclaim 3 wherein said frame member is formed of a single metal rod.
 8. Achair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein said frame member is formed ofa metal tube.
 9. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the arcuateextent of said floor engaging portion comprises approximately 215* , thearcuate extent of said riser portion comprises approximately 180* , andthe arcuate extent of said seat supporting portion comprisesapproximately 325* .
 10. A chair frame as claimed in claim 6, thetransition between said floor engaging portion and said riser portionbeing centered at the rear of the chair.
 11. A chair frame as claimed inclaim 3 wherein said floor engaging portion extends beneath the frontedge of said seat support portion.